Status Overview and Recommendations for the Conservation of Milky Stork Mycteria Cinerea in Malaysia
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Status Overview and Recommendations for the Conservation of Milky Stork Mycteria cinerea in Malaysia Final Report of the 2004/2006 Milky Stork Field Surveys in the Matang Mangrove Forest, Perak, Malaysia David Li Zuo Wei, Siti Hawa Yatim, John Howes and Rahmah Ilias February 2006 Produced by Wetlands International and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Peninsular Malaysia Project implementation supported by Malaysian Nature Society Main sponsor Nagao Natural Environment Foundation, Japan Co-sponsor Tan Kean Cheong Bird Conservation Memorial Fund, Perak © Wetlands International 2006 Pages from this publication may be reproduced freely for educational, journalistic, and other non-commercial purposes. Prior permission must be given for all other forms of reproduction. Full credit must always be given to the copyright holder. ISBN 983-40960-9-7 This publication should be cited as follows: Li, Z.W.D., Siti Hawa Yatim, Howes, J. and Rahmah Ilias. 2006. Status Overview and Recommendations for the Conservation of Milky Stork Mycteria cinerea in Malaysia: Final Report of the 2004/2006 Milky Stork Field Surveys in the Matang Mangrove Forest, Perak, Malaysia. Wetlands International and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Published by Wetlands International Available from: Wetlands International - Malaysia Office 3A39, Block A, Lobby C, Kelana Centre Point Jalan SS7/19, Petaling Jaya 47301 Selangor Tel: 03-78046770 Fax: 03-78046772 Email: [email protected] Website: www.wetlands.org Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN), Peninsular Malaysia Km 10, Jalan Cheras 56100 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 03-90752872 Fax: 03-90752873 Email: [email protected] Website: www.wildlife.gov.my Cover painting: Lim Chiao Mei. Design by Wong Yew Onn. Printed by CG Print. Printed on 128gsm matt art. Contents Foreword..................................................................................................................................... vi Message from Nagao Natural Environment Foundation ....................................................... vii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................. viii Summary in English................................................................................................................... ix Summary in Bahasa Malaysia................................................................................................. xiii 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Objectives of the survey ...................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Methods and areas surveyed .............................................................................................. 2 1.3.1 Area covered ............................................................................................................. 2 1.3.2 Time schedule and survey team................................................................................ 2 1.3.3 Survey methods......................................................................................................... 3 1.3.4 Collecting and compiling data.................................................................................... 4 2. Results and Discussion.......................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Overview of the status and distribution of Milky Stork ......................................................... 5 2.1.1 Species distribution and status in range countries .................................................... 5 2.1.2 Ecological requirements ............................................................................................ 7 2.2 Milky Stork in the Matang Mangrove Forest and adjacent coastal areas, Perak............... 11 2.2.1 Historical information on Milky Stork at Matang Mangrove Forest (from 1983 to mid- 2004) ....................................................................................................................... 11 2.2.2 Current Milky Stork population at the Matang Mangrove Forest (August 2004- January 2006).......................................................................................................... 14 2.2.3 Possible recent breeding of Milky Stork .................................................................. 14 2.2.4 Ecological assessment of Milky Stork habitats at Matang Mangrove Forest........... 16 2.3 Waterbird populations in the Matang Mangrove Forest and adjacent coastal areas, Perak . ......................................................................................................................................... 30 2.3.1 Changes in waterbird populations in the Matang Mangrove Forest and adjacent coastal areas between 1983 and 2006.................................................................... 30 2.3.2 Waterbirds in the Matang Mangrove Forest and adjacent coastal areas between August 2004 and January 2006............................................................................... 32 2.3.3 Assessment of waterbirds and habitats using aerial survey (January 2005)........... 33 2.4 Captive breeding and re-introduction programmes for the Milky Stork in Malaysia and neighbouring countries ..................................................................................................... 35 2.4.1 Status of captive stocks of Milky Stork .................................................................... 35 2.4.2 Milky Stork re-introduction programme at Kuala Selangor ...................................... 37 2.4.3 Hybrids between Milky Stork and other stork species............................................. 38 3. Conclusions........................................................................................................................... 40 3.1 Decline of Milky Stork and overall waterbird populations at Matang Mangrove Forest and adjacent coastal areas...................................................................................................... 40 3.2 Current status of Milky Stork habitats................................................................................ 41 3.2.1 Conservation of important Milky Stork habitats and areas ...................................... 41 3.2.2 Ecological changes in Milky Stork habitats.............................................................. 42 3.2.3 Possible limiting factors for Milky Stork breeding success ...................................... 42 3.2.4 Changes in Milky Stork prey populations and foraging grounds ............................. 43 3.3 Human impacts.................................................................................................................. 44 3.3.1 Forestry management in the Matang Mangrove Forest .......................................... 44 iii Status Overview and Recommendations for the Conservation of Milky Stork in Malaysia 3.3.2 Human disturbance ..................................................................................................44 3.4 Other issues .......................................................................................................................45 4. Recommendations.................................................................................................................46 4.1 Promoting the conservation status of the Milky Stork ........................................................46 4.2 Improving conservation and management of Milky Stork habitat at Matang Mangrove Forest ................................................................................................................................46 4.3 Enhancing monitoring and scientific research on Milky Stork at Matang Mangrove Forest ..........................................................................................................................................47 4.4 Future re-introduction programme for the Milky Stork........................................................47 5. References..............................................................................................................................49 6. Annexes ..................................................................................................................................54 Annex A: Comprehensive stork and shorebird counts at Matang Mangrove Forest and adjacent coastal areas (1983-1984)..................................................................................54 Annex B: Comprehensive waterbird counts at Matang Mangrove Forest and adjacent coastal areas (1985-1986).............................................................................................................55 Annex C: Comprehensive AWC count at Matang Mangrove Forest and adjacent coastal areas (1989-1992).......................................................................................................................56 Annex D: Partial AWC counts at Matang Mangrove Forest and adjacent coastal areas (1999- 2004) .................................................................................................................................58 Annex E: Total number of waterbirds recorded at Matang Mangrove Forest and adjacent